Milk-cooler.



PATENTED OCT. 9, 1906.

A. M. LORENTZ. MILK COOLER.

APPLICATION FILE'D JULY 12, 1906.

ALBERT M. LOIZENTZ, OF MGMECHEN, WEST VIRGINIA.

MILK-(.LOOLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 9, 1906.

Application filed ly 12,1906. Serial No. 325,852.

T0 at w/wm/ it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT M. LoRENTZ, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a resident of McMechen, county ofMarshall, and State ofWest Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMilk-Coolers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in milk-coolers, andmore particularly to a milk cooling and aerating device; and it consistsin the particular construction, arran ement, and combination of parts,which Wlll hereinafter be fully described. The object of the inventionis to provide a simple and comparatively inexpensive milk cooling,aerating, and clarifying device adapted for being furnished either witha constant or intermittent supply of water or ice, or both.

A further object is to provide means for retarding the flow of the milkover the cooler to thoroughly cool the same.

In describing the invention in detail reference is herein had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichFigure 1 is a perspective view of the invention. Figs. 2 and 3 arerespectively longitudinal and cross sections of the same. Fig. 4 is anelevation of the discharge-spout and stopper therefor; and Fig. 5 is asimilar view of the discharge-spout, showing a modified form of stoppermounted therein.

Referring to said drawings, in which like reference numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates a cooling-tank, theends 2 and 3 of which are extended upwardly, constituting frames whichsupport at their upper ends a trough 4, having a rounded bottom with aseries of perforations 5 therein. The cooling-tank 1 is substantiallysemicylindrical in form and j is mounted on a flat base 6,as shown. Saidbase extends beyond the edges of the lower part of the tank on the twosides and on the rear end and has its outer edges 7 upturned, forminggutters 8 on said two sides and end for receiving and carrying the milkto the discharge-outlet. Secured on the outer face of the end 3 of theframe is a tapered funnellike receptacle 9, which is divided by a wall10 into two compartments 11' and 12, the first-mentioned compartmentcommunicating at its lower end through a small opening 13 with theinterior of the tank, near the bottom thereof, while the last-mentionedcompartment communicates, through a relatively arge opening 14:, withthe interior of said tank, at the top thereof. Leading from the oppositesides of the compartment 12, preferably slightly above the top of thetank, are overflow-pipes 15, which extend downward on opposite sides ofthe receptacle 9 and join, as shown. A drain-pipe 16 is provided fordraining the tank.

In the gutter 8 at the rear end of the device is a spout 17, throughwhich the milk is discharged. Said spout consists of a tube insertedthrough and rigidly secured in the base 6 in said gutter and projectedat its upper end above the base to a height approximately equal to thedepth of the gutter. Said spout is provided with a substantiallyV-shaped slot 18 therein, the pointed end of the slot being on a levelwith the bottom of the gutter, so that the gutters may be thoroughlydrained when desired. A stopper or plug 20 is employed for closing thespout 17, said stopper consisting of a cylindrical body having a portioncut from one side thereof, as shown. hen it is desired to prevent themilk from flowing through the spout, said stopper is turned in saidspout to bring its convex face 21 into a position covering the slot 18,and when it is desired to admit of the flow of the milk through thespout the stop per is turned to bring the cut face 22 into a positionregistering with said slot 18.

It is apparent that the depth of milk permitted to stand in the guttersbefore it discharges through the spout may be regulated by manipulationof the stopperthat is, by

adjusting the stopper to cause a greater or less degree of registrationbetween the slotted face of the spout and the cut-face of the stop per.

The stopper may either be a solid body or may be a hollow cylindricalshell. Secured to the upper end of the stopper is a handle 23, by meansof which the manipulation of the stopper is facilitated.

Provided upon the sides of the tank 1 are corrugations 19, which serveto retard the flow of the milk. To prevent the milk from digressing andflowing from the ends of the corrugations, the ends 2 and 3 of the frameare projected beyond the tank, as shown.

In operation the cooling-tankl is filled with ice or water. Milk pouredinto the trough 4 passes through the perforations 5 in small streams,which fall upon the top of the tank, from whence the milk passes down onopposite sides to the gutters 8. The milk is partially cooled andaerated in passing to the tank from the trough, and as it passes overthe surface of the tank it is further cooled from contact therewith. Thecorrugations 19 check the rapidity of the How, causing the milk toremain in contact with the coolingtank longer than would be the casewere the sides of the-tank plain. The stopper 20 is preferably insertedand adjusted in the spout 17 to prevent the immediate discharge of themilk from the guttersthat is, to hold-the milk in said gutters until ithas reached a considerable depth before overflowing through thespout-thus admitting of the milk and at the same time allowing sedimentin the milk to settle to'the bottom, being clarified, the sedimentsettling to the bottom of the gutters.

When water is employed for cooling the tank, it is'preferably caused toenter at the bottom through the opening 13, being poured into thecompartment 11- of receptacle 9. Fresh water may be admitted atintervals as needed, or a'constant circulation may be kept up by havingthe end of a water-pipe or hose inserted in said compartment 1.1, theoverflow passing from the top of the tank outwardthrough the pipes 15.When ice is employed for cooling, pieces of the same may be inserted inthe tank through the compartment 12 and opening 14, and when water isusedice may be inserted, as just mentioned, for cooling the water.

Fig. 5 illustrates a modification of stopper, which comprises a tubularmember open at its bottom and formed with a V-shaped slot 21 forregister with slot 18 of spout 17.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. A milk-cooler comprising a cooling-tank, a trough having aforaminousbottom supported above said tank, gutters at the base of said tank, anda funneldike receptacle having a wall therein forming two compartments,each of which communicate with the tank interiorly thereof. I

2.' A milk-cooler comprising a cooling-tank of semicylindrical formhaving a roughened surface to retard the flow of milk, a trough having aforaminous bottom supported above said tank and at a point centralthereof and a funnel-like receptacle having a wall therein dividing saidreceptacle into two compartments, each of which communicate with theinterior of the tank.

3. A milk cooler comprising a cooling-tank,

having a gutter at the base thereof, a discharge-spout for the guttercomposed of a tube which projects in the gutter and which has a V-shapedslot therein, and a plug for closing said spout, said plug comprising acylindrical body having a cut-away portion for registry with said slotof the discharge-tube.

4. A milk-cooler comprising a cooling-tank, having a gutter, adischarge-spout for said gutter composed of a hollow member having acut-away portion, and a stopper received in said member and having acut-away portion to register with said cut-away portion of the spout.

5. A milk-cooler comprising a cooling-tank having a gutter at the basethereof, a discharge-spout for said gutter, said dischargespcutconsisting of a hollow member having a cut-away portion, and a stopperreceived in said member and having a cut-away portion to register withsaid cut-away portion of the spout, and means for filling said tank.

6. A milk cooler comprising a cooling-tank having a gutter at the basethereof, a tube mounted in said gutter andprojecting there above, saidtube having a cut-away portion,

a stopper having a cut-away portion adapted 1 for mounting in said tube,the cut-away portion of the stopper being adapted for registering withthe cut-away portion of the tube, and a funnel-like receptacle at oneend of said tank through which the latter is filled.

7. A milk-cooler comprising a cooling-tank having a gutter at the basethereof, atube mounted in said gutter and projecting thereabove, saidtube having a V-shaped slot therein, a stopper having a cut-away portionadapted for mounting in said tube, the cut away portion of said stopperbeing adapted to register with the slot in the tube, and a funnel-likereceptacle having a wall therein forming two separate compartments, eachof which communicate with the interior of the tank,

8. A milk-cooler comprising a coolin -tank having a gutter at the basethereo and means for controlling the discharge of milk from said gutter,said means comprising a tubular spout mounted in the bottom of thegutter and standing with its upper end projected above said bottom andhaving a cut away portion, and. a stopper in said spout, said stopperhaving a cut-away portion and being adapted for adjustment in said spoutto cause a greater or less degree of registration between the cut-awayportion thereof and the cut-away portion of the spout.

Signed by me in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

ALBERT M. LORENTZ.

